Pack harness



Sept. 2, 1959 E. E. GRACE ET AL. 3,464,607

PACK IIARNES S Filed Sept. 15, 1967 l '1;I\"I'(IR ERNEST E. GRACE MYRLE TWOOLMAN Aqent 3,464,607 PACK HARNESS Ernest Edward Grace, 175 Highway 1113 N., and Myrle T. Woolman, 8 Dulferin St. N., both of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 668,079 Int. Cl. A45f 3/10 US. 'Cl. 224-25 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pack harness having a U-shaped frame to which a flexible backing is lashed. The shoulder straps are connected at their lower ends to the frame and at their upper ends to a transverse member out of the plane defined by the frame on the opposite side of the frame as the bearer. A further feature is that coupling means are attached to the ends of the frame to enable connection of the frame to a second frame to form a bed or stretcher.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pack harnesses and is particularly directed to pack harnesses adapted to be carried on an individuals back for transporting loads.

Where goods must be transported by hand, it is common to employ pack harnesses or carrying frames. Much thought has been directed to improving the design of such pack harnesses so that heavy loads may be borne with comfort on a bearers back. For example, it is known to provide a metallic frame to which a flexible backing and shoulder straps are attached. When in position on a bearers back, the flexible backing and the straps alone contact the bearer; no part of the load or the hard metallic frame make contact. It is also known to provide both shoulder straps and hip straps in order to proportion a load between the shoulders and the hips.

One problem with known back harnesses which has generally escaped solution, however, is that the centre of gravity of the load is offset from a bearers back when the bearer is standing upright, and the bearer when carrying the loaded pack harness is obliged to lean forward to maintain his balance. This hunched forward, unnatural position is uncomfortable and tiring, and the bearer must rest frequently, particularly where the load must be carried long distances. Means which have been suggested for overcoming this problem include a harness which places substantially all of the load at the bearers hips. Such a harness, however, while an improvement, is not a complete answer since a bending moment still exists about the bearers shoulders which tends to topple the bearer backwards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, this problem may be overcome by providing a pack harness comprising a frame having two spaced apart side portions, a transverse supporting member attached to the two side portions, upper attaching means on the transverse supporting megnber substantially midway "between the two side portions, being out of the plane defined by the two side portions on the opposite side of the plane to the bearer, two lower attaching means, one on each side portion, and being equidistant from the upper attaching means, a pair of shoulder straps the upper ends of which being attached to the upper attaching means and the lower end of one shoulder strap attached to one lower attaching means and the lower end of the other shoulder strap attached to the other lower attaching means, and backing attached to the frame substantially in the plane defined by the tent O 3,464,607 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 two side portions. The bearer of such a pack harness may maintain his balance while walking in an upright position and may, as a result, comfortably and comparatively easily carry a substantial load. A further feature of this invention is that coupling means are provided at the ends of the side portions of the frame which are adapted to join the frame to corresponding coupling means of a second frame to form a bed or stretcher.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a pack harness to which a load is attached which may be easily and comfortably borne by a bearer.

It it another object to provide a harness which permits the bearer to carry a load in an upright position.

It is a further object to provide a harness which may be joined to another harness to form a bed or stretcher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the following description.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the manner in which the pack harness is borne by a bearer;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the shoulder straps and the means by which they are joined to the frame; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the manner in which two pack harnesses are joined together to form a bed or stretcher.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally the main frame of the pack harness and 11 the bearer of the pack harness. Frame 10 consists of a tubular member 13 formed into a generally U-shape having web portion 12 and spaced-apart side portions 14 and 16 perpendicular to web portion 12.

Spaced laterally along side portions 14 and 16 are transverse supporting member 18 and transverse member 20. Transverse supporting member 18 is generally U- shaped having a lateral portion 22 elongated relative to end portions 24 and 26, and is attached by suitable means to side portions 14 and 16.

Being similar in shape to transverse supporting member 18 and spaced apart therefrom is transverse member 10 attached to side portions 14 and 16. Transverse supporting member 18 and transverse member 20 serve both as reinforcing means and as legs for a bed, or stretcher, as explained below.

Upper attaching means 32 consisting of a U-shaped rod is attached to trans-verse supporting member 18 on lateral portion 22 midway between side portions 14 and 16.

The upper ends of carrying straps 28 are attached to upper attaching means 32 by doubling back and fastening to themselves to form loops 30 which encircle U-shaped rod of upper attaching means 32. It is essential that the point at which carrying straps 28 are attached to upper attaching means 32 be away from the plane defined by tubular member 13 and backing 36, and on the side of tubular member 13 opposite bearer 11, as shown in FIGURE 1. Carrying straps 28 pass through orifice 62 in backing 36 and are attached at their lower ends to side portions 14 and 16 at points equidistant from upper attaching means 32. The lower ends of carrying straps 28 are doubled back to form loops 29 which encircle semi-circular members 34 which are attached to side portions 14 and 16 at the free ends of semi-circular members 34. The lower ends of carrying straps 28 are attached to side portions 14 and 16 at or about the connection of transverse member 20 to side portions 14 and 16. Carrying straps 28 are provided with buckles 37 to permit adjustment of carrying straps 28 to the proportions of bearer 11.

Backing 36 is provided with a plurality of grommets as at 38 spaced along its margins to permit lashing of backing 36 to tubular member 13 by a cord along three margins. Lashing is accomplished by passing the cord alternatively through a grommet and around tubular member 13, as shown in FIGURE 1. Backing 36 should be maintainned in substantially the same plane defined by tubular member 13.

The load, not shown, may be attached to upper transverse member 18 and transverse member 26 by any suitable means such as lashing, tying, sewing and the like.

Attached to the free end of side portion 14 at 44 is sleeve 46 having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the free end of side portion 16. Provided in the wall of sleeve 46 facing side portion 16 is slot-shaped aperture 48 having a long axis disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of frame 10. Provided near the free end of side portion 16 and disposed parallel to the transverse axis of frame is aperture 50. Sleeve 46, slot-shaped aperture 48 and aperture 50 are provided to permii frame 10a and 10b to be joined at their free ends as shown in FIGURE 3 to form a bed or stretcher frame. The free end of side portion 16 of frame 10a is slid into sleeve 46 of frame 10b and the free end of side portion 16 of frame 10b is slid into sleeve 46 of frame 10a as shown in FIGURE 3. Frames 10m and 101) are held firmly in engagement by means of pin 52 (one of which is shown in FIGURE 3) which passes through slot-shaped aperture 48 into aperture 50.

By reason of the shape of aperture 48, the joining of frames 10a and 10b is a simple procedure. It is merely necessary to insert the free end of each into the mating sleeve 46 of the other frame so that each aperture 50 formed in a free end is somewhere between the ends of the slot shaped aperture 48 in the sleeve containing the free end. Both apertures 50 will then be visible and pins 52 may be passed therethrough to interconnect the frames. The Web portion 12 of the frames may then be separated in order to extend the bed or stretcher to its full length.

By contrast, if apertures of the same shape as apertures 50 were formed in sleeves 46, the joining of frames 10a and 10b would be more difficult. After the free end of each frame had been mated with the corresponding sleeve of the other frame, it would be necessary to adjust one frame relative to the other so that the apertures formed in the free ends and sleeves of both frames coincided. Such an operation would involve moving one frame back and forth until the apertures on both sides of the frames were seen to coincide. The operation could become particularly time consuming where the light was poor or where either or both frames had become bent through misuse so that when the apertures on one side coincided, those on the other side did not.

Where however a slot-shaped aperture is employed, apertures in the free ends within the sleeves can be located by running a finger along the slot of the sleeve when the light is poor. The fact that one or both fraimes may have become slightly bent will not result in difficulty in insertion of the pins.

Pin 52 may be fastened to frame 101 by any suitable means including a chain. Backing 36 lashed to frame 19a may be lashed to backing 36 of frame 1% by lacing a cord through alternate grommets 54 of frames 10a and 10b. It will be noted that when frames 10a and 1012 are joined, there is formed a complete bed or stretcher frame and cover, and transverse supporting member 18 and transverse member 20 form legs for the bed or stretcher.

It will be understood that the frame, upper transverse and transverse members, sleeve, and connecting means may be of metal, wood, plastic or other suitable, relatively rigid, material and may as well as being welded together, he joined by bolting, screwing, nailing and other joining means known to the art. Backing 36 may be of canvas or other suitable material and consist of a continuous sheet as shown in the drawings or strips running between side portions 14 and 16. As well as being lashed to frame 10, backing 36 may be fastened in other modes including screwing, tying, gluing.

The means by which the ends of frame 10- may be joined described above may be varied. Other suitable means include screwing the ends into sleeves, and bolting the ends together.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiment of the present invention as described hereinabove.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pack harness comprising a U-shaped frame having spaced apart side portions and a Web portion perpendicular to said side portions, a transverse supporting member of U-shape having an elongated lateral portion parallel to said web portion, and spaced apart end portions the free ends of which being connected to said side portions, a transverse member similar in shape to said transverse supporting member and having a lateral portion parallel to the lateral portion of said transverse supporting member and being connected to said side portions, said transverse supporting member being spaced apart from and between said transverse member and said web portion, upper attaching means on said transverse supporting member substantially midway between the two said side portions, being out of the plane defined by the two said side portions on the opposite side of said plane as the bearer, first lower attaching means attached to one said side portion, second lower attaching means attached to the other said side portion, the distance between first lower attaching means and said upper attaching means being equal to the distance between second lower attaching means and said upper attaching means, a first adjustable length shoulder strap attached at one end to said upper attaching means and at its other end to first lower attaching means, a second adjustable length shoulder strap attached at one end to said upper attaching means and at its other end to second lower attaching means, backing having a plurality of grommets and lashed by a cord to said U-shaped frame by passing the cord alternately through a grommet and around said U- shaped frame, a sleeve connected to the free end of one said side portion having a slot-shaped aperture disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said U-shaped frame,-

the end of the other said side portion being provided with a circular aperture, said other end being adapted to be received within the sleeve of a like pack harness so that two like pack harnesses may be joined to form a bed or stretcher by inserting said other end of each pack harness into the corresponding sleeve of the other pack harness, a pin adapted to be slidably received by said slot-shaped aperture and said aperture, for securement of joined pack harnesses, and wherein the end of said backing opposite said web portion is provided with a plurality of grommets, and wherein said transverse supporting member and said transverse member are adapted for use as legs of a bed or stretcher.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,262 2/1917 Abercrombie 22425.1 2,456,253 12/1948 Bushey 22425.1 3,184,128 5/1965 Bucher 224-25 3,225,985 12/1965 Romney 22A9 XR 3,282,483 11/1966 Babcock 22425.1

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 224-9 

